A turning point is easy to put in a headline. The years that follow are harder to summarize.
This week’s conversation with Ashley Cantrell asks us to pay attention to both. Ashley describes finding Christian faith while in jail, then continuing to struggle after her release. In her account, moving away from her old surroundings and building different relationships helped her begin a different life.
Her story includes responsibility, family, work, and the patient rebuilding of trust. It is her experience, not a formula that everyone else’s recovery must follow.
Listen for what happened after the turning point
When you listen, try noticing three things: what Ashley decided, what changed around her, and what she continued doing over time. Those are different parts of a story. Keeping them distinct helps us hear the person rather than squeezing a complicated life into a slogan.
Then ask yourself: When I describe someone’s progress, do I mention the ordinary work as well as the dramatic moment?
Listen to Ashley Cantrell’s full conversation →
The episode runs about 17 minutes. This is the one thing I hope you make time for this week.
From our books, shop, and learning resources
Owned-product advertising: the following book, shirt, and course are part of Brandon Burley’s businesses. They are separate from Ashley’s interview; no guest endorsement is implied.
A reading habit that connects the story
Walking Through the Word: One Story. One Savior. One Faithful God. follows Scripture from Genesis to Revelation in 52 weeks. Each week brings focused readings, context, explanation, application, and a discussion question. The aim is to help readers see how individual passages fit into the larger biblical story.
The Kindle edition is available to preorder, with release scheduled for November 18, 2026. It is not available to read yet.
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View the Kindle preorder on Amazon (paid link)
Known by Love
Our Known by Love TRP Original Tee, inspired by John 13:35, puts a simple challenge into everyday words. It is a unisex cotton tee with a front print and an unprinted back, offered in Natural and White.
Made to order by Printful. Check the product’s size guide before ordering; the buyer pays shipping, with charges shown at checkout.
See Known by Love and its size guide
A learning habit: separate the record from the conclusion
One learning outcome in Evidence Before Conclusions is recognizing what a source establishes—and what it leaves unknown. Practice with this simple distinction: three articles repeating one unsupported claim are not three independent confirmations.
For your next reading exercise, make four columns: claim, original source, what it establishes, what remains unknown. That is a useful habit for careful reading without turning uncertainty into certainty.
For questions about the course or using the material with a group, contact Project Forge.
Start with Ashley’s conversation. Listen past the turning point, and give the work that followed its proper place in the story.
— Brandon